Elderly rats fed with a high-fat high-sucrose diet developed sex-dependent metabolic syndrome regardless of long-term metformin and liraglutide treatment.

Aim/introduction: The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of early antidiabetic therapy in reversing metabolic changes caused by high-fat and high-sucrose diet (HFHSD) in both sexes.

Methods: Elderly Sprague-Dawley rats, 45 weeks old, were randomized into four groups: a control group fed on the standard diet (STD), one group fed the HFHSD, and two groups fed the HFHSD along with long-term treatment of either metformin (HFHSD+M) or liraglutide (HFHSD+L). Antidiabetic treatment started 5 weeks after the introduction of the diet and lasted 13 weeks until the animals were 64 weeks old.

Peri-Interventional Triple Therapy with Dabigatran Modifies Vasomotion after Bare-Metal Stent Implantation in a Pig Coronary Artery Model.

(1) Background: Coronary artery stenting leads to local inflammation, disturbs vasomotion, and slows endothelialization, increasing vascular thrombus risk. We used a pig stenting coronary artery model to assess how peri-interventional triple therapy with dabigatran ameliorates these effects. (2) Methods: In a total of 28 pigs bare-metal stents were implanted.

Combined uterorelaxant effect of magnesium sulfate and terbutaline: Studies on late pregnant rat uteri in vitro and in vivo.

Introduction: Preterm delivery and its complications are among the biggest challenges and health risks in obstetrical practice. Several tocolytic agents are used in clinical practice, although the efficacy and side effect profiles of these drugs are not satisfying. The aim of this study was to investigate the uterus relaxant effect of the coadministration of β -mimetic terbutaline and magnesium sulfate (MgSO ) in an isolated organ bath and to perform in vivo smooth muscle electromyographic (SMEMG) studies in pregnant rats.

High Fat High Sucrose Diet Modifies Uterine Contractility and Cervical Resistance in Pregnant Rats: The Roles of Sex Hormones, Adipokines and Cytokines.

Background: In obesity, the adipose tissue becomes a very significant endocrine organ producing different factors called adipokines, such as leptin, adiponectin and kisspeptin; however, no data are available about their actions on uterine contraction in obese pregnant rats. Our aim was to study the impact of obesity on pregnant uterine contraction in a rat model.

Methods: Obesity was induced by the consumption of a high fat high sucrose diet (HFHSD) for 9 weeks, including pregnancy.

Peri-interventional Triple Therapy With Dabigatran Improves Vasomotion and Promotes Endothelialization in Porcine Coronary Stenting Model.

We evaluated the short and long-term effect of peri-interventional dabigatran therapy on vasomotion, endothelialization, and neointimal formation in a porcine coronary artery stenting model. Stenting of coronary arteries induces local inflammation, impairs vasomotion and delays endothelialization. Twenty-eight animals underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug eluting stents.

The ontogeny of kisspeptin receptor in the uterine contractions in rats: Its possible role in the quiescence of non-pregnant and pregnant uteri.

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of KISS1 94-121 fragment on the contractility of non-pregnant and pregnant rat uteri, and to determine the uterine and myometrial expressions of Kiss1r. Uterine muscle strips were obtained from non-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats in oestrous phase and from pregnant rats on gestational days 5, 15, 18, 20 or 22. The in vitro contractility measurements were carried out in an isolated organ bath in the presence of KISS1 94-121.

Significance of transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 and aquaporin 5 co-expression in the rat uterus at term.

Aims: Aquaporins (AQPs) are channel proteins that facilitate the rapid passive movement of water. In our studies it was proved that the decreased AQP5 expression is followed by the increase of uterine contractility. The transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) is a calcium channel, which is activated in response to osmotic changes.

Antispasmodic Activity of Prenylated Phenolic Compounds from the Root Bark of .

Black mulberry is a widely acknowledged ancient traditional medicine. Its extract and constituents have been reported to exert various bioactivities including antimicrobial, hypotensive, analgesic etc. effects.

-Tocopherol Potentiates the Cervical Resistance Decreasing Effects of COX Inhibitors in Pregnant Rats: The Putative Role of Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibition.

Vitamin E and their analogs as antioxidant and lipid-soluble compounds can have diverse effects on the physiologic processes. By binding to receptors and enzymes, they may modify the action of drugs. It has been proved that -tocopherol succinate modifies the effects of agonist terbutaline and cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors on rat trachea and myometrium.

Effects of different antibiotics on the uterine contraction and the expression of aquaporin 5 in term pregnant rat.

Aquaporin (AQP) water channels are small hydrophobic integral membrane proteins. AQP5 expression, which is regulated by oxytocin, showed a dramatic down-regulation at the term and preterm uterus. Since antibiotics are among the drugs to treat intrauterine infections, our aim was to study the effects of antibiotics on AQP5 and uterine contractility on 22-day pregnant rats.

Alpha-tocopherol succinate increases cyclooxygenase-2 activity: Tissue-specific action in pregnant rat uterus in vitro.

Aims: Lipid soluble vitamin E plays a role in several physiological mechanisms, however, the mechanism of this action is controversial. We investigated how tocopherol (α-tocopherol acid succinate) influences the effects of cyclooxygenase inhibitors (COXi) in the smooth muscles.

Main Methods: The contractility of the samples from 22-day-pregnant myometrium and non-pregnant myometrium and trachea was determined in an isolated organ bath in vitro.

Herbal laxatives and antiemetics in pregnancy.

Constipation appears in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy, while nausea is the strongest in the 1st trimester. This review summarizes the applicability of herbal laxatives and antiemetics in pregnancy. A human study has shown that flax oil as laxative is safe from 2nd trimester.

Obesity in pregnancy: a novel concept on the roles of adipokines in uterine contractility.

Obesity is a global health problem even among pregnant women. Obesity alters quality of labor, such as preterm labor, prolonged labor, and higher oxytocin requirements in pregnant women. The most important factors to play a role in the altered gestational period and serve as drug targets to treat the consequences are female sexual hormones, calcium channels, adrenergic system, oxytocin, and prostaglandins.

The effects of progesterone on the alpha2-adrenergic receptor subtypes in late-pregnant uterine contractions in vitro.

Background: The adrenergic system and progesterone play major roles in the control of the uterine function. Our aims were to clarify the changes in function and expression of the α2-adrenergic receptor (AR) subtypes after progesterone pretreatment in late pregnancy.

Methods: Sprague Dawley rats from pregnancy day 15 were treated with progesterone for 7 days.

The effects of estrogen on the α2-adrenergic receptor subtypes in rat uterine function in late pregnancy in vitro.

Aim: To assess the effect of 17β-estradiol pretreatment on the function and expression of α2- adrenergic receptors (ARs) subtypes in late pregnancy in rats.

Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats (n=37) were treated with 17β-estradiol for 4 days starting from the 18th day of pregnancy. The myometrial expression of the α2-AR subtypes was determined by real time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis.

The effects of female sexual hormones on the expression and function of α1A- and α1D-adrenoceptor subtypes in the late-pregnant rat myometrium.

The aim of the study was to investigate the roles of α1-adrenoceptor subtypes in the last-day pregnant rat uterus in vitro by the administration of subtype-specific antagonists (the α1A-adrenoceptor antagonist WB 4101 and the α1D-adrenoceptor antagonist BMY 7378) after 17β-estradiol or progesterone pretreatment. In isolated organ bath studies, contractions were elicited with (-)-noradrenaline (10(-8)-10(-5)M) in the presence of propranolol (10(-5)M) and yohimbine (10(-6)M) in order to avoid β-, and α2-adrenergic action. The myometrial expressions of the α1-adrenoceptor subtypes were determined by means of the real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting techniques.

Effects of d- and l-limonene on the pregnant rat myometrium in vitro.

Aim: To study the effects of d- and l-limonene on pregnant rat myometrial contractility in vitro, and investigate how these effects are modified by other agents. D- and l-limonene (10(-13)-10(-8) M) caused myometrial contraction in a dose-dependent manner.

Methods: Contractions of uterine rings from 22-day-pregnant rats were measured in an organ bath in the presence of d- or l-limonene (10(-13)-10(-8) M) and nifedipine (10(-8) M), tetraethyl-ammonium (10(-3) M), theophylline (10(-5) M), or paxilline (10(-5) M).

[The effect of R(+) limonene on β - adrenerg signaling: the significance of oxidative stress index].

Reactive oxygen intermediers (ROI) play a role in the signal transduction of beta-adrenergic receptors. We investigated whether an antioxidant (limonene) can reduce the beta-mimetic effect of terbutaline in beta-2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR)-regulated smooth muscles. Tissue samples were collected from nonpregnant (trachea) and 22-day-pregnant (myometrium and cervix) rats.

[The effect of R(+) limonene on β-adrenergic signaling in smooth muscles: the significance of oxidative stress index].

Reactive oxygen intermediers (ROI) play a role in the signal transduction of beta-adrenergic receptors. We investigated whether an antioxidant (limonene) can reduce the beta-mimetic effect of terbutaline in beta-2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR)-regulated smooth muscles. Tissue samples were collected from nonpregnant (trachea) and 22-day-pregnant (myometrium and cervix) rats.

Tocopherol inhibits the relaxing effect of terbutaline in the respiratory and reproductive tracts of the rat: the role of the oxidative stress index.

Aims: Reactive oxygen species play a role in the signal transduction of beta-adrenergic receptors. We investigated whether an antioxidant (tocopherol) can reduce the effect of terbutaline in beta-2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR)-regulated smooth muscles.

Main Methods: Contractility of the tissues from nonpregnant (trachea) and 22-day-pregnant (myometrium and cervix) rats was investigated in an isolated organ bath.

Oxytocin regulates the expression of aquaporin 5 in the late-pregnant rat uterus.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are integral membrane channels responsible for the transport of water across a cell membrane. Based on reports that AQPs are present and accumulate in the female reproductive tract late in pregnancy, our aim was to study the expression of AQP isoforms (AQP1, 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9) at the end of pregnancy in rat in order to determine if they play a role in parturition. Reverse-transcriptase PCR revealed that specific Aqp mRNAs were detectable in the myometrium of non-pregnant and late-pregnancy (Days 18, 20, 21, and 22 of pregnancy) rat uteri.

Androgenic effect of honeybee drone milk in castrated rats: roles of methyl palmitate and methyl oleate.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Numerous honeybee (Apis mellifera) products have been used in traditional medicine to treat infertility and to increase vitality in both men and women. Drone milk (DM) is a relatively little-known honeybee product with a putative sexual hormone effect. The oestrogenic effect of a fraction of DM has recently been reported in rats.

Calcium channel blockers as tocolytics: principles of their actions, adverse effects and therapeutic combinations.

Dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel blockers (CCBs) are widely accepted in the treatment of premature labour. Their mechanism of action in tocolysis involves the blockade of L-type Ca2+ channels, influenced by the Ca2+-activated K+ channels, beta-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) and sexual hormones. In clinical practice, most experience has been gained with the use of nifedipine, whose efficacy is superior or comparable to those of β-agonists and oxytocin antagonists.

Uterus-relaxing effect of β2-agonists in combination with phosphodiesterase inhibitors: studies on pregnant rat in vivo and on pregnant human myometrium in vitro.

Aims: Our aims were to examine the effects of a simultaneous stimulation of β(2) -adrenergic receptors and inhibition of uterine phosphodiesterases (PDE), in the pregnant rat uterus in vivo and on human uterine tissue in vitro. We also set out to measure cAMP levels and detect the expressions of the isoenzymes PDE4B and PDE4D in human uterine tissue samples.

Material And Methods: Preterm birth was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats with bacterial lipopolysaccharide.

[Investigation of uterus-relaxing effects of nifedipine in the presence of terbutaline and K(+)-channel blockers].

Unlabelled: Tocolysis is one of the greatest challenges in obstetrical practice. It is known that the calcium channel antagonists abolish the intracellular calcium ion transients and myometrial contraction. However there is a growing interest in experimental studies to use different tocolytic combination.